Full-Timers In Canada

[Guest]

<p>I'm just wondering if anyone here actually full-times in Canada, or does everyone start heading south once the weather gets too cold?</p><p><br>Because of my anxiety, I won't go across the borders, &amp; I'd love to know how others manage the winters</p>

 

[Willy]

ME! ME! ME! ..Willy (me!)

 

[Guest]

<p>Hahaha&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"></p><p>How do you stay warm/cool?&nbsp; Do you just rely on your vehicle, or do you go out to Vancouver in the winter &amp; the East Coast in the summer?</p>

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;I'm strictly a BC boy. The Okanagan is pretty nice in the winter and there are tons of FS rec sites around the Harrison area. Got a truck (4x4)/camper setup with good insulation and a propane (RV) furnace; snug as a bug in a rug. My solar fan/vent setup keeps me nice 'n cool in the summer, and the insulation w. a white roof helps too. ..Willy.

 

[Guest]

I get the feeling that after the first couple years, my fiance &amp; I will probably just stay in BC.&nbsp; But we want to travel around first, see the east coast, northern ontario, &amp; whatnot<br><br>But we do plan on spending our winters in BC

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;BC is the place to be in the winter, especially if you boondock. I stay out of the cities, so being able to access the backwoods easily is a paramount concern. I stay off the Island though, since most of the good areas are gated off and they've got that 'killer' mold/fungus growing there and infecting people. Also, it's wayyyyyy too wet there for my liking. ..Willy.

 

[Wild_E]

Full time in Ontario,<br>creative living in my Box truck.<br><br>Am currently staying in a gated yard and doing work and security in exchange for rent and such, but much is changing.&nbsp;<br>Last two years heated with propane, last year I changed how I heated the vehicle by using a much smaller heater and putting it in an old metal kerosene setup, then put an old roast pan on top with a bio mass in there to catch and absorb the heat and some humidity as well.<br><br>Even though last year was much colder and windier than the year before, my propane cost was down by 3/4 over the year before. (also used a 100lb tank so savings there as well.)&nbsp;<br>moved vehicle to a much better out of the wind situation and things were nicer this year, mostly !&nbsp;<br><br>This winter I will be heating using a rocket mass heater that I am building as well as installing a small wood stove and will burn used motor oil in it, backup and for nighttime will be the small propane heater.&nbsp;

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;I have a small (25lb capacity) frame mount auto-propane tank that I installed in my camper and, along with having a gauge, I save a bundle by filling up with auto-propane. Also, there's no expiry date and I can stick in however little I wish. ..Willy. &nbsp;

 

[dfunkt]

I'm in Canada and often wondered the same thing. &nbsp;I don't worry about my ability to heat the van, my concern is the draconian rules in Canada and complete lack of public access to camping. &nbsp;Everything seems to be illegal here and I don't want to pay for a camp site... EVER!

 

[dfunkt]

@Willy: What are<span style="line-height: 16px;">&nbsp;FS rec sites?</span>

 

[Wild_E]

since I lived in BC<br>FS - Forestry Service Campsites,<br>stay there up to 14 days at a time.&nbsp;<br><br>There are some in Ontario as well, not as many mind you.

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;During the winter, here in BC, you can stay at many FS campsites however long ya wish. It's when late spring/summer rolls around, with them uppity tourists, that 14 day limits (or fees) are enforced. ..Willy.

 

[dfunkt]

Imagine that! &nbsp;BC actually has 272 free camp sites. &nbsp;LOL &nbsp;This country is so terrible, one of the largest countries in the world and there are a whopping 272 designated free spots to camp (up to 14 days).<br><br>I am sad to be Canadian. &nbsp;But thank you for this info Willy.

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;Well, there are MANY more free places to camp, besides FS sites, but ya gotta do some studying. 272 sites ain't a small number either, and just in BC alone. You also have to take into account how rugged the terrain here is, as opposed to someplace like the AZ desert, and all that forest. ..Willy.

 

[Guest]

Crown land isn't counted on the free campsite webpages Dfunkt.&nbsp; You can camp there for free for 21 days, then you have to move at least 100 meters away.<br><br>The free campsites seem to be mostly in towns, which doesn't really say much about how big our actual country is.<br><br>Also, if you hate it so much in Canada, how about seeing what people in the US have to deal with when it comes to free camping? - https://vanlivingforum.com/post/KISS-quotStaying-Legal-as-a-Boondockerquotan-important-read.-6407477

 

[Wild_E]

Not sure of their wording but;<br><br>we need more free camping<br>more Forestry Camping<br>more Crown Land camping site<br>more rest stations like the USA has<br>relax on some of the rules<br>less BS politicoes ...<br>less GMO<br>less issues with Health Care<br>less Politically Correct BS<br>.

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;One of the problems in Canada is that the money for FS personnel/upkeep isn't there, so idiots who trash sites have almost free reign at many locations. This leads to a reduction in 'official' FS campsites (I've stumbled across a few decommissioned ones in my travels). Fortunately, there are, like, millions of miles of logging roads (in BC), which means tons o' free camping. ..Willy.

 

[user 423]

Hey Willy have you crossed paths with many Yanks camping long-term up north?

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;Nope, cuz they just plain ain't tuff enuf.. at least during the winter. Summer, we get plenty of USA folk here, but they seem to mostly have plenty o' munny, drive the high dollar rigs, and lurk in RV parks. ..Willy.&nbsp;

 

[blueberry]

It's good to hear about boondocking in Canada. I'm from the U.S. and would like to spend summers there exploring once I get my van. Thanks for the info.